WRG celebrates 40 years

ESTABLISHED way back in 1970, this year the Inland Waterways Association's Waterway Recovery Group (WRG) is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

Though many canals have been brought back to life by local canal societies and trusts, the WRG brought something new to supplement these local initiatives.

It acts as a co-ordinating force, providing equipment, expertise, publicity and labour to help local restoration schemes. Since it does not focus on individual projects, it can move around the country, giving a concerted push to restoration schemes that need it, providing skills and resources that would not otherwise be available.

Of its work, Chairman Mike Palmer, reveals:

"I am proud to be associated with the WRG, and it has been a privilege to be its chairman for nearly 14 years. I cannot speak too highly of the volunteers who make it work. WRG has assisted so many schemes over the past 40 years that it is hard to pick out key achievements. They are all important as far I'm concerned.

"But examples that stick in my mind are the saving of the Peak Forest and Ashton canals from closure and the successful restoration of the Kennet & Avon Canal. More recently WRG helped to restore the Barge Lock on the Droitwich Canals and the flight of Aston Locks on the Montgomery Canal."

Every year WRG runs over 20 week-long working holidays called ‘Canal Camps' with the aim of restoring the derelict waterways of England and Wales, and already planning its summer programme.

It is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a schedule of working holidays planned across the country from Newport in Wales to Chelmsford in Essex, to the Chesterfield in Derbyshire and all the way down to the Grand Western Canal in Devon and Somerset.

There will be 23 Canal Camps running this year with volunteers undertaking projects such as the restoration of ‘Steppingstone's Bridge' near Swindon on the Wilts & Berks Canal; the continuing excavation, restoration and rebuilding of Gough's Orchard Lock on the Cotswold Canals; the restoration of a leaky culvert on the Grantham Canal; as well as working alongside Essex Waterways team to maintain the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation, by assisting with bank protection, painting, towpath clearance and repairs.

Mike added:

"Volunteering with WRG is a unique opportunity. Participants can learn new skills to improve and widen their future employment opportunities, such as bricklaying, the use of lime mortar and using specialist excavation and construction machinery, as well as taking the chance to be part of the team that really make a huge difference to the waterways.

In these hard economic times volunteering is as important as ever to waterway restoration projects across the country. We need lots of volunteers in 2010 to ensure we get more waterways restored than would otherwise happen. WRG Canal Camps are a great experience for anyone who loves being in the outdoors and is interested in having fun whilst meeting people from all different backgrounds and countries. To ensure WRG carries on successfully for the next 40 years we need new volunteers now. It's easy. Go to our website to find out more www.wrg.org.uk and sign up to be a 21st century canal navvy."

The photographs are at work camps on the Montgomery Canal and Cotswold Canals, with the one of Mike Palmer by Martin Ludgate.